Samuel Rucker (abt. 1838 - abt. 1904)

Born about Mar 1838 in Double Bridges, Lauderdale, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Clara (Eison) Rucker — married 16 Oct 1890 in Lauderdale, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died about 1904 at about age 65 in Lauderdale, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Samuel "Sam" was born about March 1838, in Double Bridges, Lauderdale, Tennessee. Sam was born enslaved by John Soward. While the names of Sam's parents are unknown, it is known that his mother was also enslaved by John Soward, and had come with him from York, South Carolina. She had a daughter Moriah, who had a different father. Sam's father had been enslaved by the Thurmond family also in Double Bridges, he had moved there with them from Virginia.

John Soward died in 1859, two years before the beginning of the Civil War. Because of a lawsuit between John's wife and son, the process of most of John's enslaved people including Sam being inherited was slowed, and then the Civil War began. By May 1862, John's son James Soward had sold Sam, along with two other of John Soward's enslaved people, Jenny and Frazier, were sold on the Lauderdale County courthouse steps.

Sam and Jenny were purchased by a man named J.H. "Spot" Rucker. Spot had also purchased a woman named Martha and her son Caleb from another enslaver. Spot wanted more enslaved people, so he "slave married" Sam and Martha, who produced children as a result.

The children born between Sam and Martha while enslaved by Spot Rucker were Eliza, Fred, Lucinda, and Adaline. After the end of the war and when Sam and his family were free, Sam, Martha, and their children, including Martha's son Caleb, all adopted the last name Rucker.

Sam and Martha had two more children after the war, Jennie and Frank. Now a free man, Sam Rucker had taken still decided to "breed", which is something Spot Rucker had encouraged him to do while enslaved. Sam would go on to father numerous children.

Sam fathered four children with Caroline Soward, Molly, Rinda, Matthew, and Lovie, a daughter with Caroline Watson, Belle, a son with Malinda Puryear, Tom, a daughter with Cynthia Eison, Mary, and a son with Josephine Lockey, Frazier.

During this time, Sam had owned his own land, and let people, mostly women, live on the land and sharecrop. He also took in Elvira Eison and her two minor sons, and had begun a sexual relationship with her, but never produced any children. Elvira took custody of her granddaughter, Clara Eison. Clara, now a teenager, was a daughter of Elvira's elder son Bill Eison, who had abandoned Clara after the war. Clara was in the custody of Andrew Soward and his family. Andrew was Sam's stepbrother, as Andrew's mother Mournin was married to Sam's father, who died shortly after.

Clara was a teenager, and had also begun a sexual relationship with Sam. This resulted in the birth of multiple children, Etta, Allie, Flora, Clarence Allen, and James. During this time, Sam had attended church. They encouraged Sam to marry Clara, as his marriage to Martha was not recognized by law. On October 16, 1890, Sam Rucker threw a double wedding at his home, for him and Clara Eison, and also for his daughter, Rinda Soward, and her groom, Tim Hinton.

Both couples married that day, and Sam and children would have more children born in their marriage, Holly, Dolly, Charles, and Dixie. Martha died shortly after the marriage, and Sam would also die around 1904. After his death, his daughter Lucinda sued Clara in 1909, adding her deceased sister Adaline's children, her brother, Frank, and two half-brothers, Tom and Matthew.

Sources

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G4PJ-SC1